Women's Ceremony 

Makinti Napanangka, around the turn of the twenty-first century, captured Women's Ceremony in rhythmic strokes of acrylic on canvas. The concentric circles, a dominant motif in Indigenous art, ripple with layers of meaning, evoking both the physical sites of gathering and the spiritual essence of communal dance and ritual. These circles resonate with archaic symbols found across cultures, mirroring the sun, the wheel, or the mandala. Yet, here, they pulse with the specific energy of the women’s ceremonies, a vital expression of cultural identity and continuity. Consider how the same symbol can appear in a completely different cultural context. Think of ancient Greece, where circular dances were central to religious festivals. The concentric circle in the present artwork echoes the echo of the other, an unbroken chain of human expression. The painting invites a deep, subconscious engagement, reminding us of the enduring power of ritual. The emotional force embedded in these forms, passed down through generations, serves as a potent reminder of our shared human experience.